Device for picking fruit and the like



Nov. 4, 1952 F. GROSS DEVICE FOR PICKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 1952 INVENTOR.

ATTOF/Vfy iatentecl Nov. 4, iii

UNITED: sT s PATENT OFFICE I v p 2,616,742

' DEVICE FOR PICKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE I v Frank Gross, Hutchinson, Minn.

Application March 4, 1952, Serial N- 274,722

V 4 Claims. (Cl. 294-19 My invention relates to devices for picking fruit and the like and is in the nature of an improvement upon the structure of my Pending United States application S. N. 118,569, filed September 29, 1949, and entitled Pick-up Device.

The device of my above-identified pending application is particularly adaptable (insofar as the pivoted jaws lflare concerned) to the picking up of potatoes, apples,::stones and the like from the ground, while permitting extraneous matter such as sand and dirt to escape therefrom. It is the primary object of my present invention to convert said structure into a device for successfully picking apples, oranges, grapefruit, and even smaller objects such as cherries, plums, and nuts,

while the same are still on the trees. 1

Another object of my invention is the provision of a picking device in which the-cooperating picking jaws will open under the action .of gravity when the same is positioned in a fruit-pickin position with the jaws in the air. 3

A further object of my invention is the provision of inexpensive and fool-proof means for varying the gravitational bias of the picking jaws.

A still further object of my inventionis the provision of :a device of thetype above described, which is inexpensive to produce, easy toopelate, rugged in construction, and durable in use.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and

attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my novel structure;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in end elevation of the leverwmeans and locking means therefor; and v A I Fig.4.-is-a view in vertical section, taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2. 1

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeralll indicates an elongated shank, the outer or picking end of which is provided with a head 2. On the opposite end of the shank I is bracket means 3, preferably and as shown in the nature of a U-shaped strap secured to the opposite :sides of the shank l by means of rivets or the like 4. A pair of cooperating jaws 5 and 6 respectively are preferably formed from relatively rigid steel wire or the like.

' Each of the jaws 5 and 6 is formed, as indicated in my above-identified copending application,

with an integrally-formed trunnion 6' receivable in apertures l in the shank. Said jaws operate in laterally-spaced relation to the head 2 with their extreme outer ends 8 being in substantially the same plane as the extreme outer end 9 of the shank I.

Toretain the trunnions 6' of the jaws 5 and 6 within the apertures I, I provide locking means in the form of a U-shaped spring clip ID, the closed end II of which extends loosely through an aperture in the shank l with the opposite sides 12 overlying one each of the jaws 5 and 8 closely adjacent the apertures I. Said sides l2 are retained in locking engagement with the jaws 5 and 6 by means of a pair of spaced headed pins 13 against which they exert yielding bias. It should be obvious that, when it is desired to remove the jaws 5 and 6 from the shank i, it is but necessary to compress the sides 12 of the locking member l0 sufiicientlyto enable same to be swung outwardly from the headed pins 13, at which point the trunnions of the jaws 5 and 6 may be removed from the apertures l.

Extending transversely through the U-shaped strap 3 longitudinally-outwardly of the shank I is apivot pin I4 on which is mounted for rock ing movements lever means i5 made up of a pair of slidably-matted lever elements I6 and ll. One of the level elements It or I! (preferably and shown the lever element I6) is transversely notched as at 18 at itslongitudinal center to loosely receive the pivot pin l4, see particularly Fig. 4. Likewise, one of the elements It or 11, again preferably element I6, is provided with longitudinally spaced transversely extended notches l9, the purpose of which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is to loosely receive the transverse portion 29 of a U-shaped link 2|, the free ends of which are connected one each with one of the jaws 5 and 6, as indicated by the numerals 22 and 23 respectively.

. As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, each of the elements It and I1, at'opposite ends, is provided with an annular sleeve or ferrule 24. Pref erably and as shown, the ferrules 24 taper outwardly so as to snugly receive the tapered outer ends of the other of said elements It and I1.

to the pivot pin M. It should also be obvious that, when the element l1 is moved entirely from sliding engagement with the element IS, the

U-shaped stripper element 25, indicated by dotted lines, may be removed from the notch 26. It might here be stated that the element 25, the integrally-formed stripper bars 21 and cooperating pick-up tines 28, all of which are clearly described in my above-identified copending application, form no part of the present invention and hence will not be described in detail herein. When the elements l6 and I! are in assembled relationship, as shownby full lines in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, they may be securely locked against longitudinal sliding movement by means of ,a locking pin 29, preferably and as shown of the safety pin variety, which passes through-aligned openings in apertured members 30, one each in adjacent ends of the members it and N.

For the purpose of providing longitudinal extensibility to the shank l, I provide a shank extension member 3|, which is centrally apertured, as at 32, to receive the headed pin l4. An anchoring element on the shank I maintains the shank members i and 3! in vertical alignment. This anchoring element is made up of a U-shaped member 33 formed from steel wire or the like andhaving its outwardly-bent opposite ends 34 loosely received within transversely-speed aperturedmembers 35. For the purposeof imparting rocking action to the lever 55 and consequently opening and closing movements to the jaws 5 and 5, I preferably provide'a cord or thelike35 which is secured to an eye-equipped pin3'i which is adapted to be snugly :received within an opening 38 adjacent the outer end of the lever-forming element !5 opposite the openings Hi. When it is desired to impart sliding movements to the members it and H for the purpose of adjusting the pivotal connection of the portion 28 with the notches 59, the pin 3'! must obviously be removed from the opening 38. v

As shown, particularly by reference to Fig. .2, the headed pins 3 provide a simple and efficient means for receiving the bail 39 of a conventional pail iii}, so that the fruit or the like being picked from the tree by the jaws 5 ands may, under the action of gravity, be deposited therein. In this manner, undue bruising of the fruit is prevented.

As shown, particularly in Fig. 1, the wire from which the jaws 8 are formed is bent into serpentine leops to provide spaced pick-up fingers '46,

whereby to permit dropping 'therethrough of sand, gravel, dirt, and other particles not .in-

tended to be picked up when apples, potatoes and the like are picked up. However, when my novel structure is used to pick fruit from trees, particularly small fruit such as plums and cherries, itis desirable to close the opening between the fingers ii. This I accomplish by means of cleats 42, projecting from the side edges of which are pairs of laterally-spaced gripping fingers 43 adapted to frictionally engage the wirefrom-- which the fingers 5| are formed (see Fig. 2).

In operation, when my device ispositioned, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the jaws 8 fall towardatheir open position under the action of gravity, thereby positioning the lever is with the operating cord 35 in the elevated full line position. When it is desired to pick a given piece of fruit or the like, the cord 36 is pulled downwardly, whereby toposition the lever 15 in the dotted line position of Fig. 1. The open position of the jaws is again assumed under the action of gravity by releasing the cord 26. To increase the speed of opening of .the jaws 5 and .6, the link 2| may be moved, whereby the transverse portion ZEIthereof is positionedin the outermost notch 19.

the U-shaped stripper element 25 may be removed from the notch 26, whereby to further unbalance the jaws 5 and 6.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be obvious that the same is capable of modification Within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, an elongated shank, a head on;-the outer .end of the shank, a pair of 'coope'ratin'g'jaw elements journalled to said head in spaced relation for pivotal movements to and from each other in laterallyroifset-relation to said head, bracket means on the other end of said shank, a pivot pin extending transversely through said bracket means longitudinally :outwardly of said other end of the shank, lever means centrally pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, and a U-shaped link pivotally secured at its closed end to said lever means in "laterallyo'ifset relatio'nto the upper end'portion of theshankland-pn the same side thereof as said .jaws, the 'free" ends of said link being pivotally connected onje'ea'ch to one of said jaws, said lever means comprising -:two longitudinally slidable mating lever-elements, one of said elements'havinga central 'notch 'for the're'cep'tion of said pivot pin, onexof said elements having longitudinally- ;spaced notchesiintermediate its center and one of-its ends for selectivelytreceiving the closed end portion" of said,link',.-sleeve means carried'by each oi? said lever .eiements limitingirelativ'e longitudi- ,nal-sliding movements of tone thereof with respect to the other thereof, and .means .for positively locking adjacent ends of said z lever elements against relative longitudinal movements in the opposite direction.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said locking means comprises a pair of alignable apertured members oneeach on one of said lever elements, and a' locking :pin receivable within the apertures .01" said members.

3. The structure-defined in-claim l in further combination with a" shank extension :member having ian-aperture intermediateits ends into which said .pivot pin-,is received, 'an anchoring :elementonisaid' shank longitudinally inwardlyspaced fromsaid other :endthereof and engageablewith 'one' extreme-"end of said shank extension member, and ,an elongated lever-operating memberic'arri'ed by'the end of said lever means opposite the pivotal connection therewith of said.link;

A. :The structure definedin .claim 1 in which said jaws are formed from resilient steel wire or the-like having integrally-formed trunnions .receivable in laterally-spaced recesses insaid head and in further .combination-withmeans forre- .leasably locking. said jaws to said :head, said means comprising 22. Uishaped zspringclip, said spring clip being mounted for swingingimovements ,on' said ihea'd on-:anaxis-transversely of said trunnions and longitudinallyinwardly -therefroi'n,.ajndtai'pair,ofheaded lockpins on said .head; saidlocktpinsbeing spaced apart -.a distance greater than the recesses receiving said trunnions and being spaced. longitudinally-outawardly from :said recesses whereby the arms of said spring-clip will-overlie one each of said jaws adjacent saiddarunnions whenthe free endsthereof:are: in lockingengagementwith saidlock pins.

.Gaoss.

.Noreferences-zcited- 

